Ryan Smyth and wife Stacey climbed in a cab to go house hunting Monday evening.

"The cab driver did a bit of a double take," said the repatriated Edmonton Oiler. "He turned and said, 'Are you serious?'"

So, with the house in question, is he looking to buy or to rent?

"We're looking to buy," said the 35-year-old left winger with one year remaining on his contract.

"We're looking all over. We've looked in Sherwood Park. We've looking in the west end where we used to live. It's different now with kids going to school. We know the city but it's different looking at it when you're thinking of kids going to school and all the other stuff that goes with kids growing up.

"Doing the house hunting makes it really hit me that I'm back in Edmonton. This is the place we call home. I'm overwhelmed with joy."

And No. 94 made it quite clear he's hoping to complete his career and he thinks he's got way more than a year or two to go.

"I feel I'm still young. I think I have experience I've gained and lessons I've learned that I can pass on to the young players as maybe a bit of a mentor and I think I can tap into their youthful exuberance and energy to help me.

"This is a talented young team Tamby is putting together and getting the five guys he signed on July 1 moved us up in the standings. Already I can feel the energy in the city and with the talk of a new arena, there could be no greater feeling than winning a Stanley Cup here in Edmonton."

Yup. You get the idea Ryan Smyth is projecting himself to be in the team picture in 2014 and thinking ahead to playing in Daryl Katz's new downtown arena.

"That would be great," he said at the press gathering yesterday at the downtown Lux Steak House where he is a 10% owner.

"With the location of the Lux, I'm definitely on Katz's side for building that arena where it's been planned."

After asking the Los Angeles Kings if they could accommodate his return to complete his career in Edmonton, Smyth had no real idea of the outpouring of love in his direction — nor the outrage at the idea he could end up in Calgary with the Flames when, for a day, that was a real possibility.